Top > Sport > 2007 > March > 2007-03-11

Shaq is Back

Shaquille O?Neil led the Miami Heat to a prestigious victory over the Detroit Pistons, 85-82. The Heat are playing without star guard Dwyane Wade, who is contemplating undergoing a season ending shoulder surgery, leaving the floor to the Big Fella. And sue enough he filled the void. O`Neil finished the game with 31 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. ?I am the baddest big man for my age bracket,? said O?Neal, who turned 35 this week.

O?Neil has missed much of the season with a left knee injury. He is still working off the pain. The 35 point total was his highest for the season. Surely the Heat can use more such dominant outings from their center. When the Heat were already up by 22 points in the second quarter, it seemed like the plan definitely works. The Pistons did not double team O?Neil in the first half, and he scored 16 points and passed four assist. Later they switched to a zone defense, which caused more problems to the defending champs. He did step up four minutes to the end of the game, when the Pistons already took the lead. He scored two foul shots and scored off an offensive rebound to stop their run.

O?Neil has reached 25,000 career points. He has four championship titles. But he is still hungry. ?I?m still a good looking guy, a funny guy, still a lucky guy, so hopefully you guys will like me and write good things.?